Influence of vermicompost and vermiwash on the producction of java the (Orthosiphon stamineus) and hempedu bumi (Andrographis paniculata)

Currently, the needs for healthcare services are rising quickly due to large population growth and compounded by the ageing population as well as changing of lifestyle. he herbal industry is therefore a profitable investment opportunity from both economic and social point of view. Study by Gupta, 2005 (cited in Gorakh et al, 2009) have shown that excessive uses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is harmful to our soil and can cause environmental hazards when applied to most agricultural crops and with that as a background, this study carried out in order to find an alternative method of growing herbs plants with the application of vermiwash and vermicompost without using chemical fertilizers. Four treatments which are vermicompost , vermiwash, NPK fertilizer (8:8:8) and control were applied in the recommended rates in order to compared which treatment will give the best result in the productivity of both herbal plants that have potential in Malaysia industry. Both plants grown in polybags were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The growth performance of both plants were monitored and record taken for plant parameters such as plant height of both plants, number of branching, dates of flowering, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf area and length of inflorescence for java tea.